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Tumbling

It was the safety net used by trapeze artists that made engineer inventor George Nissen (USA) think, back in the year 1934. A professor of Physical Education, this diving and tumbling champion build the first folding trampoline prototype in his garage by attaching a piece of canvas to a hinged metallic frame using elastic cords. Thereby, the Trampoline was born! The sportcontributes in an originally playful way to the improvement of an athlete’s physical and psychological well-being. It particularly leads to a better understanding of one’s body in space.

Success within the United States was immediate. The first national championships of the USA were held in 1948. In 1955 Trampoline makes its way to the Pan-American Games and finally to Europe. In 1964, the Fédération Internationale de Trampoline (FIT) was established in Germany.

In 1985, the discipline becomes part of The World Games. From the dissolution of the FIT in 1999 onwards, Trampoline has been a discipline of the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG).